UAS Operations Specialist, Labs

DoorDash USA; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer matching

Paid parental leave

Wellness benefits

Commuter benefits

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision benefits

11 paid holidays

Job summary

DoorDash is hiring an UAS Operations Specialist -Maintenance in San Francisco to maintain a cutting-edge drone fleet under Part 107 and 135. You’ll perform regular maintenance, troubleshoot complex systems, and collaborate with Flight Test and Engineering teams to ensure safety and readiness.

You will manage spare parts, tools, and GSE, document procedures, and support test flights while adhering to FAA regulations and company SOPs. A strong aviation background is essential.

Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 certification required or equivalent licensing.
• Experience in UAS maintenance, troubleshooting, or related field preferred.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and Flight Test personnel.

Responsibilities

• Perform scheduled and unscheduled aircraft maintenance, inspections, and repairs per Part 135 specs.
• Diagnose avionics, electrical, mechanical, and software faults; review telemetry logs.
• Maintain aircraft logs, part histories, and airworthiness records per FAA rules.
• Conduct preflight checks, airworthiness verification, and post-maintenance tests.

Skills

UAS maintenance

Diagnostics

Rigging

Troubleshooting

Flight operations collaboration

Education

FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107)

Tools

Maintenance software

Multimeter testing

Soldering

GSE

Job description

As a UAS Operations Specialist -Maintenance, you’ll support commercial drone delivery under Part 107 & 135 through scheduled and unscheduled fleet maintenance, inspection, and troubleshooting, while working alongside Flight Operations. All hires complete internal maintenance qualification, aircraft rating checks, and applicable pilot training to maintain operational readiness and safety.

Based on technical expertise, aviation background, and fleet requirements, specialists can also be appointed as Maintenance Technicians. These roles require formal company authorization along with FAA approval when mandated.

You’ll also perform aircraft rigging, component replacements, routine bench testing, and support Part 107 maintenance test flights and system validation alongside Flight Test and Engineering teams within FAA operating limitations and safety controls.

What You’ll Do

• Perform scheduled and unscheduled aircraft maintenance, preventative maintenance, inspections, and repairs across the commercial UAS fleet according to manufacturer procedures and Part 135 specs.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot avionic, electrical, mechanical, and software system faults, telemetry logs, and maintenance software.
• Maintain detailed aircraft logs, component history records, airworthiness tracking, and maintenance documentation in compliance with company SOPs and FAA regulations.
• Conduct preflight inspection, airworthiness verification, post-maintenance test flights, and ground engine/motor runs prior to returning aircraft to active service.
• Manage spare parts inventory, tool control, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and battery management systems to support high-availability flight schedules.
• Collaborate with Flight Test and Reliability Engineering to evaluate hardware failures, recommend design modifications, and refine maintenance procedures.
• Work with flight test personnel and cross-functional teams to execute approved test plans, flight test cards, procedures, and data collection objectives within the scope of assigned pilot duties to gain aircraft knowledge and experience.
• Provide structured feedback on aircraft behavior, system performance, pilot interfaces, procedures, and operational limitations observed during commercial and test operations.
• Identify hazards, aircraft discrepancies, abnormal conditions, and emerging risks through established channels.
• Participate in standardization and safety reporting, and contribute operational expertise to SOPs, manuals, checklists, training materials, and flight procedures.
• Support aircraft staging, equipment preparation, site setup, repositioning, and mission coordination as needed to conduct flight operations.
• Operate in outdoor environments involving extended standing, equipment handling, and varying weather conditions, while adhering to company safety practices and operating limits.
• Maintain schedule flexibility for commercial operations, training, and testing, including day, evening, and weekend shifts as required by program needs.
• Participate in the company’s FAA/DOT drug and alcohol testing program, including pre‑employment drug screening and ongoing testing as required for assigned safety‑sensitive duties under 14 CFR Part 120 and 49 CFR Part 40.

You’re Excited About This Opportunity Because You Will…

• Combine hands‑on UAS maintenance and technical troubleshooting with active drone piloting responsibilities.
• Maintain airworthiness for a cutting‑edge commercial fleet operating under FAA Part 107 & 135 regulations.
• Apply aviation fundamentals across commercial operations and Part 107 flight testing.
• Work alongside flight test personnel and technical teams to evaluate aircraft systems, procedures, and future capabilities.
• Contribute directly to safe, scalable, and repeatable drone delivery operations.
• You Have Technical and Flight Qualifications:
  You hold an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) and have practical experience in UAS assembly, maintenance, troubleshooting, or equivalent technical background.
• You're Skilled in Diagnostics & Rigging:
  You are proficient with hand tools, multimeter testing, soldering, telemetry log analysis, and component‑level repairs of complex electromechanical systems.
• You Meet and Maintain Qualification Standards:
  You can successfully complete required training, knowledge and competency evaluations, recurrent checks, and standardization requirements and maintain eligibility for assigned maintenance duties.
• You’re Procedurally Minded:
  You consistently apply manuals, checklists, SOPs, operating limitations, and flight test procedures, and exercise sound judgment when conditions change.
• You Can Support Flight Testing and Technical Collaboration:
  You can execute defined test objectives, communicate observations clearly, and work effectively with Flight Test and cross‑functional teams while maintaining pilot responsibilities and established safety controls.
• You Document with Discipline:
  You maintain accurate flight, training, qualification, and operational records and provide clear reporting that supports traceability, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be on the front lines of aerial innovation, directly contributing to the development, validation, and scaling of commercial drone delivery systems. This is a high‑impact, hands‑on role where your aviation judgment, technical skills, and procedural discipline help define how autonomous delivery operates in the real world.

Compensation

Actual compensation within the pay range listed below will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, skills, prior relevant experience, and specific work location. Base salary is localized according to employee work location.

DoorDash cares about you and your overall well‑being. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to all regular employees, which includes a 401(k) plan with employer matching, 16 weeks of paid parental leave, wellness benefits, commuter benefits match, paid time off and paid sick leave in compliance with applicable laws (e.g. Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act). DoorDash also offers medical, dental, and vision benefits, 11 paid holidays, disability and basic life insurance, family‑forming assistance, and a mental health program, among others.

To learn more about our benefits, visit our careers page here .

See below for paid time off details:

• For salaried roles: flexible paid time off/vacation, plus 80 hours of paid sick time per year.
• For hourly roles: vacation accrued at about 1 hour for every 25.97 hours worked (e.g. about 6.7 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 3.4 hours/month if working 20 hours/week), and paid sick time accrued at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked (e.g. about 5.8 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 2.9 hours/month if working 20 hours/week).

The national base pay range for this position within the United States, including Illinois and Colorado.

$28.40 - $41.80 USD

About DoorDash

At DoorDash, our mission to empower local economies shapes how our team members move quickly, learn, and reiterate in order to make impactful decisions that display empathy for our range of users—from Dashers to merchant partners to consumers. We are a technology and logistics company that started by enabling door‑to‑door delivery, and we are looking for team members who can help us go from a company that is known as the place you order food to a company that people turn to for any and all goods.
DoorDash is growing rapidly and changing constantly, which gives our team members the opportunity to share their unique perspectives, solve new challenges, and own their careers. We're committed to supporting employees’ happiness, healthiness, and overall well‑being by providing comprehensive benefits and perks including premium healthcare, wellness expense reimbursement, paid parental leave and more.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our company, industry, and cities. That’s why we hire and cultivate diverse teams of people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that true innovation happens when everyone has room at the table and the tools, resources, and opportunity to excel.

Statement of Non-Discrimination: In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination or harassment based on: race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, or veteran status. Above and beyond discrimination and harassment based on “protected categories,” we also strive to prevent other subtler forms of inappropriate behavior (i.e., stereotyping) from ever gaining a foothold in our office. Whether blatant or hidden, barriers to success have no place at DoorDash. We value a diverse workforce – people who identify as women, non‑binary or gender non‑conforming, LGBTQIA+, American Indian or Native Alaskan, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, differently‑abled, caretakers and parents, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Thank you to the Level Playing Field Institute for this statement of non‑discrimination.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.

If you need any accommodations, please inform your recruiting contact upon initial connection.

Notice to Applicants for Jobs Located in NYC or Remote Jobs Associated With Office in NYC Only

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